1998 - 2002 Reports

The table below shows the number of cases received, investigated and closed by the Fair Trading Commission during the calendar year 2002.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Received

Investigated

Resolved

Airline Services

3

20

6

Apparel & Accessories/ Footware

13

24

16

Appliances

91

163

84

Auto Parts & Supplies

6

18

19

Banking/Credit Card

9

16

10

Cable Services

0

0

0

Cellular Phones

4

26

14

Computers

39

79

45

Educational Institutions

21

29

10

Financial Services

0

0

0

Food & Beverages

9

24

11

Furniture

39

60

29

Hardware & Household Fixtures

5

14

6

Internet

0

1

1

Insurance

17

14

12

Lotteries

0

1

1

Machine & Equipment

4

16

9

Motor Vehicle & Bikes

161

289

151

Office Equipment

7

12

6

Petroleum

4

7

3

Professional Services

43

64

29

Real Estate

11

20

14

Telecommunications

61

78

43

Transportation

9

11

7

Utilities

5

8

5

Other

51

106

62

TOTAL

602

1100

583

Notes1. Insurance includes Life, Health and Motor Vehicle Insurance2. Other includes product areas such as Agriculture, Consumer Welfare, Health, Pharmaceuticals and Optometry. It also includes categories not listed in CCM (eg. Government Services)
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A review of the year 2002 indicates that a total of 602 cases were received, 1,100 cases were investigated and 583 cases were closed. The highest volumes of complaints related to the product areas indicated in the pie chart and table below. 'Motor Vehicles and Bikes' accounted for 25% of the total number of cases investigated; 'Appliances' for 14%; 'Computers' and 'Telecommunications' each accounting for 7% and; 'Professional Service' and 'Furniture' each accounting for 5%.
The category 'Other' includes product areas such as Agriculture, Consumer Welfare, Health, Pharmaceuticals, Optometry and Government Services.

PRODUCTS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES INVESTIGATED
DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 2002

Products And Services

Cases Investigated

Motor Vehicle & Bikes

289

Appliances

163

Computers

79

Telecommunications

78

Professional Services

64

Furniture

60

Other

445

TOTAL

1100

In relation to other years, the total number of cases increased dramatically between 2001 and 2002 (see table below). Whereas there was a 4% increase in cases investigated between 2000 and 2001 (702 to 729), there was a 51% increase between 2001 and 2002 (729 to 1100).

CASES INVESTIGATED
FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 2000-2002

Products And Services

Cases Investigated 2000

Cases Investigated 2001

Cases Investigated 2002

Motor Vehicle & Bikes

129

167

289

Appliances

83

103

163

Computers

61

57

79

Telecommunications

23

26

78

Professional Services

17

31

64

Furniture

29

30

60

Other

360

315

445

TOTAL

702

729

1100

A closer look at the percentage changes in the number of cases investigated over this three-year period indicates that in some categories, the increase was quite significant (see table below). For example between the years 2001-2002, the number of 'Motor Vehicle and Bikes' cases received increased by 73% as compared to 29% in the previous period; 'Telecommunications', increased by 200% as compared to 13% in the previous period; 'Professional Services', increased by 106% as compared to 82% in the previous period and; 'Furniture', increased by 100% as compared to 3% in the previous period.

PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES INVESTIGATED
FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 2000-2002

Products AndServices

Change between 2000-2001

Change between 2001-2002

Motor Vehicle & Bikes

29%

73%

Applicances

24%

58%

Computers

-7%

39%

Telecommunications

13%

200%

Professional Services

82%

106%

Furniture

3%

100%

Other

-13%

41%

TOTAL

4%

51%

The statistics indicate that calendar year 2002 has accounted for the highest number of cases received by the FTC, since its inception. The table below shows the number of cases received, investigated and closed as well as the corresponding resolution rate for the last five years. The resolution rate has improved from 31% during the year 2001 to 53% in the year 2002. In fact, the FTC closed 250% more cases during the period 2002 than in the previous period (from 231 cases in 2001 to 583 in 2002). Although there was a higher resolution rate in 1998 and 2000 than in the year 2002, more cases were closed in 2002 than in those earlier years.

CASES RECEIVED, INVESTIGATED AND CLOSED
FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 1998-2002